f/16
Aperture
8.0
Stops less light than f/1
0.39%
Light vs f/1
5.00 m
DoF: 50 mm at 3 m (FF)
21.5 µm
Airy disk diameter
Depth of field at f/16 (full frame)#
| Focal | at 1 m | at 2 m | at 5 m | at 10 m | Hyperfocal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | ∞ | ∞ | ∞ | ∞ | 54.9 cm |
| 24 mm | 4.81 m | ∞ | ∞ | ∞ | 1.22 m |
| 35 mm | 88.2 cm | 7.56 m | ∞ | ∞ | 2.59 m |
| 50 mm | 37.7 cm | 1.74 m | 98.2 m | ∞ | 5.26 m |
| 85 mm | 12.2 cm | 51.7 cm | 3.66 m | 23.3 m | 15.1 m |
| 135 mm | 4.6 cm | 19.7 cm | 1.30 m | 5.57 m | 38.1 m |
| 200 mm | 1.9 cm | 8.6 cm | 57.8 cm | 2.38 m | 83.5 m |
Diffraction at f/16#
Diffraction softening becomes visible at 100% once the Airy disk spans more than about two pixels. It is a gradual effect, not a cliff.
| Sensor | Pixel pitch | Airy disk / pixel | Pixel-level sharpness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame 24 MP | 6.00 µm | 3.6× | diffraction-limited |
| Full frame 45 MP | 4.39 µm | 4.9× | diffraction-limited |
| Full frame 61 MP | 3.79 µm | 5.7× | diffraction-limited |
| APS-C 24 MP | 3.92 µm | 5.5× | diffraction-limited |
| APS-C 40 MP | 3.04 µm | 7.1× | diffraction-limited |
| Micro Four Thirds 20 MP | 3.34 µm | 6.4× | diffraction-limited |
| 1-inch 20 MP | 2.41 µm | 8.9× | diffraction-limited |
| Smartphone 1/1.3" 50 MP | 1.17 µm | 18.3× | diffraction-limited |
f/16 on smaller sensors equals…#
Exposure (brightness) is the same at a given f-number on every format; equivalence describes depth of field and total light.
| Used on | Full-frame equivalent depth of field |
|---|---|
| APS-C (1.5×) | f/24.0 |
| Canon APS-C (1.6×) | f/25.6 |
| Micro Four Thirds (2×) | f/32.0 |
| 1-inch (2.7×) | f/43.2 |
Shutter speed at f/16#
| Light | ISO 100 | ISO 400 | ISO 1600 | ISO 6400 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV 15 · Bright sun, distinct shadows (Sunny 16) | 1/125 s | 1/500 s | 1/2000 s | 1/8000 s |
| EV 13 · Cloudy-bright, no shadows | 1/30 s | 1/125 s | 1/500 s | 1/2000 s |
| EV 12 · Heavy overcast / open shade | 1/15 s | 1/60 s | 1/250 s | 1/1000 s |
| EV 10 · Just after sunset | 1/4 s | 1/15 s | 1/60 s | 1/250 s |
| EV 8 · Bright interior, city street at night | 1 s | 1/4 s | 1/15 s | 1/60 s |
| EV 5 · Home interior at night | 8 s | 2 s | 0.5 s | 1/8 s |
| EV 2 · Distant city lights | 1 min | 15 s | 4 s | 1 s |
| EV -2 · Moonlit landscape | > 4 min | > 4 min | 1 min | 15 s |
When to use f/16#
f/16 is a go-to setting for maximum depth of field (macro, focus-free landscapes) and long exposures in daylight, at the cost of diffraction softness.
Detailed depth-of-field tables#
Other apertures#
Frequently asked questions#
Is f/16 a wide aperture?
No — f/16 is a small (narrow) aperture. Smaller numbers mean larger openings.
How much light does f/16 let in compared to f/2.8?
0.03× (-5.0 stops).
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources